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How those fleeing Ukraine inspired US border policies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:49 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, refugees from the threatened nation started showing up at Mexico’s border with the United States. Roughly 1,000 Ukrainians a day flew to Tijuana on tourist visas, desperate to reach U.S. soil.The volume was overwhelming the nation’s busiest border crossing in San Diego. In Tijuana, thousands of Ukrainians slept in a municipal gym hoping for a chance to cross into the U.S. In response, the Biden administration announced it would admit up to 100,000 Ukrainians for two years — if they applied online, had a financial backer and entered through an airport. At the same time, border officials turned back Ukrainians who arrived on foot at the U.S. border. The Democratic administration has considered those policies to be so effective that a similar model has become the centerpiece of a broader border policy rolling out in earnest Thursday as coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions that had allowed U.S. officials to quickly turn ...

Inside NHL draft lottery Blackhawks won for Connor Bedard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:49 GMT

SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks won the NHL draft lottery and the chance to select Connor Bedard long before Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly revealed it on national television. The process to determine who got the No. 1 pick and Bedard, considered hockey’s top prospect since Connor McDavid, actually wrapped up about 80 minutes earlier in a small room at NHL Network studios. It also ended with the Anaheim Ducks getting the No. 2 pick.The Associated Press was one of three media outlets represented among the roughly 20 people there to witness the potentially franchise-altering drawing. It was filmed for posterity and posted on the league’s website.Here’s an inside look at how it all happened:THE LEAD-UPDaly, Commissioner Gary Bettman and several league executives milled about the room in the time leading up to the drawing. The lottery odds of every team that did not make the playoffs were frozen on one TV screen, while a spreadsheet showing an Excel sheet o...

Japan, US, S. Korea discuss sharing of N. Korea missile data

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:49 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan, the United States and South Korea are negotiating an agreement on sharing real-time data on North Korean missile launches, as cooperation among the three nations becomes increasingly important amid growing nuclear and missile threats from the North, Japan’s chief government spokesperson said Tuesday.Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said there has been no agreement yet, but “I understand that defense authorities are vigorously proceeding to set up an arrangement.” “The security environment surrounding Japan and South Korea is becoming more severe and more complex, and coordination between the two countries as well as trilaterally with the United States has become increasingly important,” Matsuno said. Japan and South Korea are both key U.S. allies and their cooperation is key to Washington’s security strategy in the Indo-Pacific as tensions grow with China, North Korea and Russia. Japan and South Korea have been separately linked to data from U.S. ra...

UK police under fire over coronation protester arrests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:49 GMT

LONDON (AP) — An anti-monarchy group says it plans to take legal action against London’s Metropolitan Police after several of its members were arrested as they prepared to protest the coronation of King Charles III. Civil liberties groups are accusing the police, and Britain’s Conservative government, of stifling the right to protest with new powers to clamp down on peaceful but disruptive demonstrations.The police force expressed “regret” late Monday that the activists were prevented from protesting, but defended its handling of the coronation, which drew hundreds of thousands of people into the streets of London — hundreds of protesters among them.Police arrested 64 people around Saturday’s coronation, most for allegedly planning to disrupt the ceremonies. Four have been charged, most have been released on bail, and six members of anti-monarchist group Republic have been freed and told they will not face any charges.Republic chief executive Graham Smith said three senior pol...

Germany’s Scholz urges EU to reform, strike migrants deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:49 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Tuesday for the European Union to address the political, economic and strategic challenges it faces by embracing a series of reforms, including pooling its defense procurement efforts, forging new trade deals and setting aside long-running disputes over migration from outside the bloc.Speaking to lawmakers in the European Parliament, he said strengthening the EU’s military, technological sovereignty and independent sources of crucial commodities would boost the bloc’s ties with its closest partner, the United States.Scholz said it was important for the EU to keep its promise toward prospective members such as the Western Balkans countries, while ensuring they undertake the necessary reforms to be able to join the bloc.Efforts to rebuild Ukraine, another aspiring EU member, will need “political and financial capital over the long term,” he said, adding that a prosperous and democratic Ukraine would be the strongest counterpoint to Ru...

First wild koalas caught and vaccinated against chlamydia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:49 GMT

Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in an ambitious field trial in New South Wales.The aim is to test a method for protecting the beloved marsupials against a widespread disease that causes blindness, infertility and death.“It’s killing koalas because they become so sick they can’t climb trees to get food, or escape predators, and females can become infertile,” said Samuel Phillips, a microbiologist at the University of the Sunshine Coast who helped to develop the vaccine.The scientists’ initial goal is to catch, vaccinate and monitor around half of the koala population in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales — that means vaccinating around 50 animals.The safety and effectiveness of the single-shot vaccine, which has been designed specifically for koalas, has previously been tested by vaccinating a few hundred koalas brought to wildlife rescue centers for other afflictions.A koala eats gum leaves at a koala park in Sydney, Australia, F...

Scattered storms leading up to weekend flooding risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Keep the umbrella on standby - rain chances return daily through the week and weekend.Today will feature scattered storms and heavy showers beginning as early as late morning and lasting through evening. Areas east of I-35 will are favored for the heaviest rain and maybe a strong storm or two, but today's severe risk is much lower than what we've seen previously.Tuesday's flood risk: 1-2 out of 4Wednesday will look similar with scattered storms still possible as our first storm system departs. By Thursday, Central Texas will sit in between storms with slightly less coverage of rain activity.Wednesday's flood risk: 1 out of 4 in Hill Country, 2 out of 4 for most of Austin-metro & eastern counties, 3 out of 4 in Fayette CountyA larger, more powerful storm system approaches the state late this week then stalls through Mother's Day weekend, leading to a higher likelihood of periodic heavy rain and storms that will be capable of flash flooding.While the timeline of h...

Austin Water hits milestone in water meter exchange program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Water installed 125,000 new digital water meters as part of a project to replace all analog meters across the city. This mark is the halfway point in the project to replace the 250,000 analog meters. Austin Water officials said meter replacements have been made equitably throughout all districts of the city and the utility is on track to finish the $95 million project by the start of 2025. Going digital in water infrastructure The utility started replacing analog meters in 2020 and hit its latest milestone in mid-April. The digital meters are meant to update the utility's infrastructure while also providing customers with an up-to-date look at their water consumption. Customers can now use the My ATX Water portal to track their monthly, daily, and hourly water consumption. The new portal can alert people when their water consumption is pushing them into a new tiered rate in the bill structure, which would create a higher water bill. This way there are no surp...

Georgetown Police sign 30X30 Pledge to advance women in the force

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:49 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) – The Georgetown Police Department said Monday it joined more than 285 police agencies, including the Austin Police Department, in pledging to "improve the representation and experiences of women in law enforcement".GPD said it signed the National 30X30 Pledge, which according to the department, helps agencies "assess the current state of a department with regard to gender equity, identify factors that may be driving any disparities, and develop and implement strategies and solutions to eliminate barriers and advance women in policing."The Pledge comes from the 30x30 Initiative which, according to the announcement, is a coalition of police leaders, researchers and professional organizations who have joined together to advance the representation and experiences of women in all ranks of policing across the United States. The 30x30 Initiative is affiliated with the Policing Project at NYU School of Law and the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Execu...

Man identified in deadly auto-ped crash in Round Rock

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:49 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) – Round Rock Police said Monday a man died after being hit by a vehicle on Saturday night in Round Rock. According to police, officers were called to East Palm Valley Boulevard just west of A.W. Grimes Boulevard near the HEB around 9:05 p.m. for a report of a man in the road. Police said first responders gave CPR but the man died at the scene. According to police, a vehicle had hit the man as he was walking. Police said the driver stayed behind and cooperated with them. Police identified the man who died as Thomas Byrd, 69, from Round Rock.